The RPS will lead an independent review of GP pharmacy professionals in Wales, the Welsh government last week (September 25) revealed at an RPS conference in Cardiff.
The government-commissioned review will “examine how pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and wider pharmacy teams are currently working in and alongside general practice”, according to the RPS.
It will also “make evidence-based recommendations to maximise their impact in improving patient care, safety and outcomes”, the RPS said.
Read more: New goals for pharmacy in Wales after ‘remarkable progress’
It added that a “series of engagement events” open to all GP pharmacy professionals in Wales will be advertised as part of the review to ensure “that everyone has the opportunity to input and inform the work”.
The RPS said that it has appointed English pharmacy board member and Nottingham City GP Alliance chief pharmacist and head of primary care network (PCN) workforce Ankish Patel as the review’s expert lead author.
Patel will “work with the RPS Wales team and an expert steering group, bringing together pharmacy leaders from across Wales, external expertise” and GP representation appointed “in collaboration with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)”, it added.
“Important milestone”
RPS director for Wales Elen Jones said that the review is “another important milestone on [the] journey” to achieve the goals set out in its government-backed long-term vision for how pharmacy teams will improve patient care by 2030.
“Just as the [RPS] review of clinical pharmacy services in NHS hospitals in Wales…has helped provide a blueprint for transforming clinical pharmacy services for patients in secondary care, this work will provide the evidence and recommendations needed to strengthen the role of pharmacy professionals working within general practice,” she added.
Read more: RPS appoints new director for Wales
Patel said that the review is “a valuable opportunity to highlight the impact of the workforce” while “gathering insight from pharmacy across other sectors, the multidisciplinary team and patients”.
“Together, we can set out a clear vision for how pharmacy professionals in general practice can best support patients and the wider priorities of the NHS in Wales,” he added.
Read more: RPS to scrap chief officer roles ahead of Royal College transition
It comes as the RPS last week announced the launch of new goals to “transform pharmacy services” in Wales over the next three years, with a “focus on spreading and scaling services to ensure equitable access to care”.
The membership body also last week announced that it has appointed a new director for Wales.
Dr Geraldine McCaffrey, the current chair of the RPS national pharmacy board for Wales and a member of the RPS Assembly, will commence her new role on December 1, it said.
